The Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (APIC) launched video-conferencing facility to settle RTI cases in the state. Citizens will save time and resources in accessing information, as they no longer need to visit the State Capital for hearings.

The Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (APIC) on Monday inaugurated a video-conferencing facility through which it could hear appeals and dispose of RTI cases from across the state.

CD Arha, State Chief Information Commissioner, inaugurating the facility said that video-conferencing would eliminate the need for appellants and respondents (officials) to come all the way to Hyderabad for the case hearings.

The APIC conducts 600 hearings on an average per month in Right To Information (RTI) cases. It would use the AP State Wide-Area Network (WAN) for the video-conferencing in all the district headquarters. "We are probably the first state in the country to launch this facility which will ensure speedy disposal of appeals, Arha said.

In all, the Commission received 1,65,175 applications since 2006 under RTI of which 1,56,392 were disposed of. Of the total disposals, only 10,126 were rejected while 5,174 appeals out of 41,939 were pending with the Commission, he said.